Tournaments

2017 ITTF Challenge, Slovenian Open

Belgians progress; Nathalie Marchetti and Lisa Lung upset seeding

28 Apr 2017

Success against the host nation’s Gaja Mavri and Hong Kong’s Liu Qi in the qualification stage of the Under 21 Women’s Singles event at the 2017 Slovenia Open in Otocec, Belgium’s Nathalie Marchetti continued her outstanding form on the morning of Friday 28th April.

She caused a major upset in the opening round of the event by beating Germany’s Nina Mittelham, the no.3 seed (11-6, 11-8, 7-11, 5-11, 11-7).

Lisa Lung who beat Bernadett Balint by the very narrowest of margins (Photo: Rémy Gros)

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Defeat for Nina Mittelham but she was not the only notable name to experience defeat at the first hurdle of the Under 21 Women’s Singles competition.

Furthermore, there was more success against the odds for Belgium and more disappointment for Germany; for the former Lisa Lung excelled, for the latter Wan Yuan suffered.

Lisa Lung accounted for Hungary’s Bernadett Balint, the no.9 seed; she emerged successful in a full distance five games encounter determined by the minimal two point margin (5-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9). Meanwhile, Wan Yuan experienced defeat in three straight games when facing Croatia’s Andrea Pavlovic (11-4, 13-11, 11-7).

The end of the road for three seeds, it was journey’s end for three more.

Surprise upon surprise but the top two names on duty in the Under 21 Women’s Singles event did survive, as did the player who earlier this year emerged victorious at the European Under 21 Championships in Sochi.

“I just had time to practise for two to three weeks after my arm injury; Slovenia is my first tournament since I recovered. It was a good match and I felt well, it will be difficult but hopefully I can reach the final.” Chantal Mantz